"The location in front of the historical Federalist building will be ideal as it communicates our commitment to both preservation of the past and participation in the present," he said. "It is a very strong symbol of what we are as an institution," he said.

"Kent has a strong history in support of important art," Mr. Morrison said.

"The fact that an artist of the stature of David Hayes has agreed to loan one of his pieces for public display on Main Street demonstrates his commitment to the cultural life of Kent and the role the library plays in it," he said.

Mr. Hayes was born in Hartford and received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1953 and a master of fine arts degree from Indiana University in 1955, where he studied with David Smith.

He has received a post-doctoral Fulbright Award and a Guggenheim Fellowship.

He is a recipient of the Logan Prize for Sculpture and an award from the National Institute of Arts and Letters.